It appears that this twangy tune has been out for over a decade now, but today is the first time I’ve ever heard it. Many of the lyrics do bring back memories of watching Chipper Jones play, and looking at the comments section of the video, it seems to be a huge hit with Braves fans.
While I do have an appreciation for it, hip hop is not my preferred genre of music, so this is the first time I’ve come across this song. I find that I enjoy it quite a bit, and I find the video both disturbing and amusing simultaneously. We’ve all had umpires about which we’ve had these kinds of feelings, which makes this tune very relatable.
It’s too bad the Red Sox aren’t doing as well these days as they were when this song first came out, but it’s pretty catchy all the same. And William Shatner’s cameo as home plate umpire adds a fun touch to the video.
I love this arrangement of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” performed by The Ball State University Singers. Apparently this was recorded thirteen years ago, but the video has only been viewed a little over 1100 times, and I feel this deserves to be higher. It’s a bit showtune-ish, but it’s a fun arrangement, and they even sing the full 1908 version, not just the bit we hear at the ballpark.
I never imagined that M.C. Hammer would make his way into this blog, but it turns out, Hammer Time has a connection to baseball.
Stanley Kirk Burrell (M.C. Hammer’s given name) once upon a time served as a batboy for the Oakland Athletics. After seeing the 11-year-old break dancing in the parking lot of the Oakland Coliseum, A’s owner Charlie Finley offered him a role as a clubhouse assistant and batboy, and Burrell served as a “batboy” with the team from 1973 until he graduated from high school in 1980. Whenever Finley was out of town, young Stanley would be on the phone in the A’s dugout, relaying the play-by-play. Finley loved the boy so much, he gave Burrell the title of Executive Vice President for the organization, and Burrell was paid $7.25 per game.
As for Burrell’s future stage name, its origins come in part from Hank Aaron, a.k.a. Hammerin’ Hank, to whom many felt the young batboy bore a resemblance. Reggie Jackson, using the resemblance as inspiration, began calling Burrell “Hammer,” which stuck. He acquired the nickname “M.C.” for being a “master of ceremonies” when he began performing at various clubs while on the road with the A’s (and later in the military).
Burrell even tried to pursue a baseball career himself, having played second base for his high school team. He made it all the way to the final round of cuts with the San Franciso Giants. He did not make the team, however, and it was after this point that he turned his full attention to music and pursuing a career as a rapper. Nevertheless, Hammer has been a participant/player in the annual Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game wearing an A’s cap to represent Oakland and has returned to the Coliseum to throw out the first pitch on a number of occasions.
The music for this song is very laid back, but the lyrics are a lot of fun. This tune chronicles that day in 1970 when Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter while high on LSD. I love how the song points out that nobody seemed to realize a no-hitter was in progress while it was happening.
Here’s an enjoyable performance of Ernest Thayer’s “Casey At the Bat” by The West Point Band. The music is by Randol Alan Bass, and the poem is narrated by Rich DeMarco.
This song isn’t really about baseball, per se, but I think it’s a good example of how deeply the game is ingrained in the American psyche as the National Pastime. The idea that giving a young man a baseball would be considered by so many to be a fundamental building block in his development is a pretty profound statement.
I’m not sure if I like this song, in all honesty. The tune is a bit catchy, but there is literally no imagination when it comes to the “lyrics.” Nevertheless, Big Papi is getting inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in just a matter of days, so I decided it was worth sharing anyways.
Perhaps Schroeder should consider playing a different position. Catching can be murder on the fingers.
